NRL Dolphins vs Cowboys Draftstars DFS Preview and Projections for Round 20, 2025
Last updated: Jul 17, 2025, 9:23AM | Published: Jul 16, 2025, 9:23AM
Draftstars Australia's NRL Dolphins vs Cowboys Round 20 DFS contest begins at 7:50pm AEST on July 17, 2025, and Fantasy Insider has crunched the numbers for every player in the game to help you create winning line-ups.
An accurate Draftstars cheat sheet is a must for NRL fantasy players. This DFS preview is designed to help you assemble your fantasy teams for Draftstars' NRL contests and improve your Supercoach team for Round 20.
Fantasy Insider, renowned for its world-class DFS tools and projections since 2015, uses the same machine learning models as Stats Insider to produce some of the strongest DFS projections in the world.
With the latest NRL fantasy insights and DFS strategies from Fantasy Insider, you're set to win in more NRL fantasy contests.
Cheat Sheet and Projections
We have reviewed players from each team in the Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys match-up to help you find the best picks on Thursday's slate.
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Herbie Farnworth (DOL, OB/FLEX) | $20,830 | 71.9 | 3.5 |
| Value | Connelly Lemuelu (DOL, FLEX/FWD) | $9,000 | 43.6 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Jaxson Paulo (NQL, OB/FLEX) | $12,070 | 25.3 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Oryn Keeley (DOL, FLEX/FWD) | $8,390 | 37.8 | 4.5 |
According to Fantasy Insider's DFS model, our "stud" is the highest projected scorer across the slate, while "value" picks offer the most "bang for your buck," meaning they are expected to perform well relative to their salary.
Conversely, a "fade" is a player considered to offer lower value for money, based on their expected score relative to their salary. For budget-conscious strategies, "cheapie" options refer to the best value players at lower price points not already mentioned.
In fantasy sports, understanding value—assessing a player's potential output against their salary—is crucial, as players scoring high relative to their cost are key in crafting the optimal line-up.
The "Pts/$1K" metric shows the predicted points for every $1,000 of a player's salary. A higher number indicates better value, making it easier to spot players who could outperform their cost.
Positional Breakdown
OB (Outside Back)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Herbie Farnworth (DOL) | $20,830 | 71.9 | 3.5 |
| Value | Jake Averillo (DOL) | $11,330 | 40 | 3.5 |
| Fade | Jaxson Paulo (NQL) | $12,070 | 25.3 | 2.1 |
| Cheapie | Tevita Naufahu (DOL) | $9,030 | 29.4 | 3.3 |
HH (Half/Hooker)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Isaiya Katoa (DOL) | $19,100 | 68.9 | 3.6 |
| Value | Isaiya Katoa (DOL) | $19,100 | 68.9 | 3.6 |
| Fade | Jeremy Marshall-King (DOL) | $15,500 | 49.4 | 3.2 |
| Cheapie | Harrison Graham (DOL) | $8,000 | 19 | 2.4 |
FWD (Forward)
| Selection | Player | Salary | Proj. Pts | Pts/$1K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stud | Kurt Donoghoe (DOL) | $14,390 | 52.4 | 3.6 |
| Value | Connelly Lemuelu (DOL) | $9,000 | 43.6 | 4.8 |
| Fade | Coen Hess (NQL) | $11,090 | 31.4 | 2.8 |
| Cheapie | Oryn Keeley (DOL) | $8,390 | 37.8 | 4.5 |
Conclusion
When building your NRL Dolphins vs Cowboys Round 20 teams, consider starting with a value player like Connelly Lemuelu. To secure one of the highest projected scorers, Herbie Farnworth is a strong option. If you're seeking budget-friendly choices to free up salary cap for more studs, take a look at our cheapie options, including Oryn Keeley.
On the other hand, according to our model, Jaxson Paulo is one of the lowest value options in this game, suggesting you might want to limit exposure to him if putting together multiple line-ups.
Ready to go? Draftstars' NRL Dolphins vs Cowboys slate closes at 7:50pm AEST on Thursday. ENTER NOW!
As with all NRL DFS contests, whether you start with our studs or build around our value picks, leveraging Fantasy Insider's data-driven NRL fantasy news and strategies, combined with your own research, can enhance your chances of winning in the NRL Dolphins vs Cowboys Round 20 contest. The unique insights here can give you an edge when you make your NRL DFS line-ups.
For the latest projections and optimised NRL Dolphins vs Cowboys line-ups, check out the Fantasy Insider Cruncher on Draftstars! It's free to use when you're logged in.
For more on this game, dive into our full Dolphins vs North Queensland Cowboys prediction, where you will find the latest odds and tips for the main betting markets.
Please note that if you use our DFS tips for betting purposes, ensure you gamble responsibly and keep track of your money. For free and confidential support, call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
